Emerging Albany Plan Signals
Transit Retreat
The general obligation bond act the NY State Legislature
is considering to bolster Governor Pataki’s plan
for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s
2005-2009 capital program will increase the overall transit
budget, but not by nearly enough to meet the needs outlined
by the MTA, regional planners, transit advocates and
the elected officials who have supported transit system
expansion for the past half-decade.
Traffic is Back
In 2004, traffic reached record levels on Port Authority
crossings, according to a recent article in the Bergen
Record. 2004 marked the first year traffic entering New
York City via Port Authority cross-Hudson bridges and
tunnels reached pre-Sept. 11, 2001 levels, setting an
all time high of 126.5 million vehicles.
Lincoln Tunnel: Finding More Room for Buses
The Port Authority has kicked off the first of a set
of related studies designed to increase bus capacity
in the Lincoln Tunnel.
Court Hears Stadium Traffic Case
Lawsuits challenging the traffic and transportation analyses
for the proposed West Side stadium now rest with a NY
State Supreme court judge.
NJ Pedestrians: Still at Risk
A new report released last week by the Tri-State Transportation
Campaign documented a four percent rise in New Jersey
pedestrian deaths in 2004.
Bus Lane for Clogged Suburban Route?
The New Jersey DOT recently announced it would develop
a reversible bus lane along Route 9 in Middlesex County.
The lane will operate north-bound in the morning rush
period, and south-bound in the evening.
U.S. House Turns Back Plan to Limit Tolls
One of the bright spots in the various bills seeking
to replace the 1998 TEA-21 federal funding law has been
a general liberalization of thinking about road tolls.
Nassau Hub Study Wraps Up
The last public meeting for the Nassau Hub Major Investment
Study will be April 5th. The meeting will present design
themes, the results of the ridership demand forecasting
analysis for the various mass transit options studied — including
light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit and automated
guideway trains — and information on their capital
and operating & maintenance costs.
